Tuesday’s annual military industry gathering at Capital Factory, located at the intersection of Seventh and Brazos streets, was filled with the din of more than 100 protesters yelling and slamming pots and buckets.
According to The Guardian, companies that have a history of supplying Israel Defense Forces with technology and weapons, such as Palantir, have partnered with Fed Supernova, an annual three-day event that brings together industry leaders and entrepreneurs involved in providing technology to the Department of Defense. According to its website, Capital Factory, a hub for networking and connections among businesses, hosted the event.
According to Max Horstman, a graduate student studying community and regional planning, “the genocide and starvation in Gaza (as well as) companies like Palantir and BAE Systems, who are fueling genocide by developing surveillance technology and weapons,” inspired me to be here today.
Protesters from organizations like the Austin for Palestine Coalition, the Palestinian Movement of Central Texas, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation held signs in front of the entry steps, asking on those involved with the companies to stop profiting from war and genocide.
According to Elias Hakim, a representative of the Palestinian Movement of Central Texas, Fed Supernova is a gathering of war criminals and genocide profiteers, including the Department of Defense, military technology, surveillance tech startups, and government agencies. These entities are currently brainstorming ways to develop novel and inventive methods of killing, monitoring, and making money from these activities. We are outside Capital Factory to inform them that they are not wanted in Austin.
Whistles were blown, objects were brought to pound on, and attendance were chanted “shame” as they entered and exited. Oli Hoffman, a junior studying youth and community studies, stated that they hoped the noise they generated within the venue would be heard by the attendees.
According to Hoffman, “there are people inside that are literally profiting from genocide abroad, which is why we chose to protest outside of this building.” We wanted to prevent them from enjoying drinking, partying, and knowing that they were profiting from genocide without any disruption.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have previously targeted events in Austin. Amid pro-Palestine demonstrations and artists withdrawing from the festival last year, SXSW declared it will sever its connections with the U.S. Army and arms firms that supply Israel.
Since SXSW stopped collaborating with Capital Factory, the people of Austin are chanting, demonstrating, and planning to expel Capital Factory from Austin altogether since their presence is unwanted, according to Horstman. Funders of genocide in Austin, Texas, are not welcome.
A request for comment from Capital Factory was not answered.
